27 Things to Do in NYC on a Sunny Day

We can think of a million activities for when skies are blue and the sun is shining, but we stopped at 27—the better to leave some room for your own creativity and imagination. The important thing is to get out to the parks, beaches and other outdoor attractions of New York City and start making the most of the warm weather.

2. Browse the goods—and buy a few—at the Union Square Greenmarket. Scores of vendors line the park four times a week with fresh baked goods, produce and flowers.

Brooklyn Bridge.Photo: Julienne Schaer

3. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Opened to foot traffic back in 1883, the graceful span connects waterfront Brooklyn with Lower Manhattan and is an easy, popular stroll.

Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden.Courtesy, Clayton Cotterell

4. Enjoy a pint and a brat in the Bohemian Beer Garden. This Astoria warhorse has been around for more than a century, and its umbrella- and grill-filled backyard is still a lively scene on a summer afternoon.

5. For that matter, have a cocktail or refreshing beverage somewhere outdoors. Between the City’s rooftops, piers and parks, we’ve got your sunny-day drinking agenda covered.

7. Listen to a waterfall in Snug Harbor’s Chinese Scholar’s Garden. The expansive cultural center it’s part of has plenty of museums and attractions, but the tranquil spaces of this Ming Dynasty–era re-creation might be its most enticing features.

10. Stroll the Boardwalk in Coney Island. It’s as picturesque and carnivalesque a scene as you’ll find, flanked by the beach on one side and the vintage rides of the amusementparks on the other. May as well give the Cyclone a fling while you’re at it.

11. Take a close-up look at the Pepsi sign in Long Island City. It’s in Gantry Plaza State Park, a waterside green space and walkway that’s one of the jewels of this Queens neighborhood.

12. Get lost in the streets of the West Village. And we mean that; after all, West 4th and West 10th Streets intersect as the city grid loses its bearings in the area. Fortunately, nearly every block is picturesque and lined with historic town houses and charming restaurants.

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Sunset Park.Courtesy, NYC Parks

13. Plan a picnic in Sunset Park. The crest of the hill in this Brooklyn green space marks one of the highest points in the borough, meaning you’ll have a great view of New York Harbor and the Manhattan skyline; plenty of Asian and Latin American takeout spots nearby can provide the sustenance.

18. Roller-skate the day away. Speaking of Lakeside and Brooklyn Bridge Park (this time at Pier 2), those are also two prime outdoor places for playing a disco soundtrack in your mind and trying your luck at shooting the duck.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, Central Park.Photo: Will Steacy

19. See how many of Central Park’s 1,600 lampposts you can use as navigation. In other words, try to cover as much ground as possible in Manhattan’s favorite spot for recreation and relaxation.

20. Take a run around the Central Park Reservoir, which offers excellent skyline views in all directions. Make sure to go counterclockwise around the 1.58-mile oval, which you may recognize from its starring role in the Marathon Man.

21. Watch the yachts from City Island. NYC’s New England–style getaway is a small jewel of the Bronx: a fishing village that’s loaded with marinas and low-key lobster restaurants.

22. Bike your way along the Hudson River Greenway. The dedicated path here is among the City’s most popular for cyclists, but you can find other places to pedal throughout the five boroughs.

23. Paddle around in the rivers. Numerous piers and landings in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens offer kayaking lessons that get you out on the water.

26. Listen to the buskers in Washington Square Park. This central hub is a quintessential piece of the Village, a place to relax by the fountain and take in the lively scene. Just don’t challenge one of the sharks in chess.

27. Wrap up your day with an outdoor movie or concert. These mostly take place in city parks during summer months.

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